A View of the Cultural Divide: Same-Sex Marriage - Research Paper Example

Extract of sampleA View of the Cultural Divide: Same-Sex Marriage

This anti-gay rights movement takes many forms; however, for the sake of argument and due to the brief nature of this essay, the author will concentrate on the actions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) as indicative of anti-homosexual rights with relation to the support for and subsequent passage of California’s Proposition 8. The role of the church’s leadership and doctrines is of primal importance within such an analysis due to the fact that only through understanding these can one begin to understand the frenetic nature that the church is willing to go to in order to stymie the further expression of gay rights and civil liberties within the United States. Said the church’s president to a joint meeting of the conference leadership,
“The church’s teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children. [ ] We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve that sacred institution of marriage” (Gedick 339)
The end goal of this movement has been to not only legitimize the practice, remove the shame that is associated with it, and enact laws that protect the expression thereof, but also to gain a degree of acceptance and widespread understanding within the general population (van Beek 3). However, although great strides have been made to affect a greater degree of acceptance of homosexuality, gay rights, and gay marriage, there exists a sizable group of individuals that work equally as tirelessly to legislate their own forms of morality which will adversely affect the civil rights of homosexuals. This analysis will analyze the growing desire for acceptance as a function of the battle for and against gay marriage as it transpired in California, both before, during and after, Proposition 8 (Young 131). California, oftentimes considered to be one of the most socially liberal states within the union had previously enjoyed same-sex marriage; however, a grass roots movement by socially conservative individuals both inside and outside of California were diametrically opposed to allowed same-sex marriage to continue in the state. As such, a massive campaign was instituted to seek to outlaw the practice. What is especially noteworthy about the campaign that sought to outlaw the practice is the type of nefarious means they employed to deprive Californian citizens from their right under the law to wed as they pleased. Rather than being a grass-roots campaign that originated and was funded within California, the campaign to promote Proposition 8 was heavily supported by key elements within the Republican Party from all over the United States. One such key element was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – also known as the Mormon Church. This particular religious group began a grass-roots movement
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Summary

This research "A View of the Cultural Divide: Same-Sex Marriage" will describe contemporary situation with the contemporary gay relationship situation in the United States. Moreover, the paper talks about some anti-gay movements…

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Different religions and cultures have different views about human sexuality. Hindus also believe in having sexual relations with one at a time. However, all the religions advocate heterosexuality rather than homosexuality. In other words gay relationships or lesbianism are unacceptable to religions. Traditionally and historically, sex is assumed as a divine act performed between two persons of opposite sex.

Purcell stated that same-sex marriage first came into the forefront of the news and controversy in mid-199, when three same-sex couples challenged the Hawaiian Supreme Court for their right to marry. The Supreme Court ruled that the decision by the state “might be unconstitutional” (29).

Gay rights advocates believe that it is inequitable and biased to refuse to give certain privileges to any couple, gay or not. For example, marriage enables spouses to receive insurance through their partners’ employers. They are also allowed many other rights such as the ability to make decisions for their partner who is being hospitalized, have the right to sue on their partner’s behalf and cannot be forced to testify against them in court.

More and more, gay couples are insisting that they receive the same legal rights that the traditional, heterosexual married couples receive. Gay rights advocates believe that it is inequitable and biased to refuse to give certain privileges to any couple, gay or not.

It is enough to remember Sparta, where the pupils were the lovers of their supervisors and lived in their houses. In Ancient Greece, there existed homosexual relations that were even legalized by means of a legal procedure. It can easily be derived from the antique Roman and Greek literature that homosexuality was a common thing.

One of the examples of such confusion can be the consistently ongoing debate over gay marriages not only in US but also in other parts of the world. However there is a large group of people that do not

The essay will also touch on the biological research done and the factors that drive some people to embrace the idea and end up in same sex marriages or relationships. Comparison of the laws in various places shall also institute the discussion part as many states do not embrace the idea. It is important to note that in some places being involved in a same sex marriage is punishable by death.

Legalization of same sex has brought about potential consequences both positive and negative for parents, children, families, same sex couples, social structure public health, and status of women. This is therefore an important issue for analyzing the reasons

4 pages (1000 words)Research Paper

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